Tuesday, August 22, 2006

A page at my library came back recently from her trip to Edinburgh. She happened to be there at the time of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which is fairly awesome. So what children's book adaptation was deemed worthy of inclusion as a stage play in this most excellent of theatrical spectacles? None other than the third branch of the triumverate of mediocrity. Oh, Rainbow Fish. Will it ever end?

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But . . . but . . . it's inspiring, and it has a Kind and Decent Message of Benefit to Girls and Boys (mostly girls since boys don't read and just hurl over this sort of treacly brainwashing while girls are expected to simper and pretend they like it in a spirit of sharing and mutual support and hypocrisy) and adults think it's Good for You like liver and onions, so kids should just Suck It Up and clap because it's colorful Fishies and Antics Under the Sea!

I personally wonder how they're going to reintegrate the shiny holographic scale marketing technique of the original book. Perhaps the whole show is done in 3-D. Dunno. I should note, in the interest of full disclosure, that the page who was in Edinburgh and brought my attention to this in the first place was heartbroken when I told her that I wasn't a fan. She (I'm so old) actually read this book growing up and it holds a special place in her heart. Curse you, Marcus Pfister! Look what you've done to our youth!

While I'm appalled whenever someone mentions that s/he's a fan of one of the books in The Triumvirate of Mediocrity, I've decided that everyone gets to have for free (as in: not punishable by Alkelda the Gleeful) ONE item as a personal favorite guilty-pleasure. For me, it's the BBC adaptation of The Buccaneers.

Off-topic (but in reference to an earlier post): Tamora Pierce, if you're reading this, I think you leave Meg Cabot in the dust, even if you did (gasp) secretly plug an armory in one of your books. It doesn't count because (1)the armory didn't pay you (2)I say so. If, in future editions of Trickster's Choice, Aly starts plugging "Nice and Easy" for her blue hair-dye, we'll have to revisit this topic.:)

But the blue wasn't on purpose, unlike Rainbow Fishes genetic structure. It was the side effect of a mage's lotion to make hair fuller and glossier. I think I can be safe in the knowledge that N&E (or any other hair emollient producer) won't be creating a bounce and gloss product that also accidentally turns your hair blue.

Yet.

If so, I may have to contemplate a revision, or an apologetic revision, or something.

Sorry for the hijack, Ms. Bird, but the Cabot/Clinique connection made me a bit . . . daffy. Even if I did slip in a plug for Raven Armory.

Can I really call you Tammy? (Can I tell my friends?!) Tammy, I've been meaning to tell you that Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen has some of my favorite kissing scenes in all of children's and YA literature. If Fuse#8 ever starts a "hot characters of children's literature" feature, I hope Nawat is on the short-list.